Investigation of emails led to discovery of Petraeus' affair

Journalist Paula Broadwell with Gen. David Petraeus. She wrote the book "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus." Broadwell's name has been mentioned in reports when Petraeus resigned his post as CIA director on Nov. 9, 2012. / Facebook

WASHINGTON Sources say CIA Director David Petraeus was never the target of an FBI investigation, but when his name surfaced in another probe, agents became concerned that Petraeus - or his email accounts - may have been compromised.

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Computer check revealed evidence of Petraeus affair

It all began a few months ago, when a female acquaintance of the CIA Director received a series of harassing emails, which apparently referenced Petraeus. The woman, who sources say is not a government official, notified the FBI.

Federal agents quickly traced the emails back to Petraeus' biographer Paula Broadwell, co-author of the 2012 book "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."

A further investigation then revealed evidence of an extra-marital affair, including numerous cryptic emails between the retired four-star general and Broadwell.

Broadwell spent time with Petraeus when he commanded forces in Afghanistan, doing research for her book, which was co-written with Washington Post editor Vernon Loeb.

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On a publicity tour last February, the married mother of two children made this comment:

"I'm not in love with David Petraeus, but I think he does present a terrific role model for young people, for executives, for men and women. No matter what, there's a great role model there."

Petraeus, who is also a married father of two, publicly praised his wife Holly during his Senate confirmation hearing:

"I have been blessed to have had her in my corner for some 37 years and 23 moves, and I appreciate the opportunity this morning to recognize her publicly."

But in his resignation letter to the CIA workforce, Petraeus confessed a moral failing, saying he used "extremely poor judgment" which was "unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

The FBI investigation now is winding down.

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"All In: The Education of General David Petraeus," by Paula Broadwell

There's no evidence that any sensitive CIA information was ever compromised, and no one is expected to face criminal charges.

To watch Jeff Glor's "Author Talk" interview with Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell, who has been linked to the CIA Director's resignation, click on the video at left.

[b_haas_12]

Just watch the interview around 6:50 on the video. When she talks about mentors, she gives away the affair, I think. By saying (sort of) even subordinates like her have been mentors to Mr. P. This tell all, flirting WINK, tells everything about the affair even in March 2012.

[MadammGeeky]

I am just as worried about this, which is breaking right now:
http://www.expendable.tv/2011/10/exhibit-mutual-assistance-request.html

What exactly did the CIA tell the Australians to do? Did they know that the Australians were suppressing the evidential proof of her innocence? Did they know about the absolutely security disaster across Australian airports (residual still there)?

These are surely fundamental questions,of both integrity and ethics, given that she is now seriously ill in jail.

With the current developments with Petraeus, I hope they are not pushed under the carpet. This HAS to be investigated and reported.

[1g1206]

Two days after the election and a week before the Benghazi hearing, Petraeus decides to resign over an affair? Yeah right! No doubt Obama had him investigated so he would have something to use against him to shut him up. Must have more on him if Petraeus is still not testifying. Obama has used these thug tactics in the past. When are CBS, CNN, MSNBC, going to start reporting the truth instead of the crap they want people to believe? Oh but don't worry, Obama has conveniently found someone else to testify in place of Petraeus! Gee, I wonder what he'll say?? How many other people, that planned to testify, are being threatened to keep quiet?

[tmittelstaed]

What exactly does Obama have to lose by allowing Petraeus to testify? He won the election. He might as well allow the ugly truth to come out now, it can't hurt him anymore.

A year from bow the general public will think Benghazi is a misspelling of the product Ben Gay.

[IPonUall2]

How about this, bring back Tennant?

[Dash_Riptide]

Or Eccleston, maybe.

[IPonUall2]

My take on the whole thing here is.......emails being investigated.....sexual encounter with subordinate...........resignation and apology to wife............but who told the media?
Those on top should have privately met with him and told him to chill out and leave it be.

[tmittelstaed]

How do you know they didn't? He may have been told a month ago and just decided that there wasn't enough evidence to hang him, and so chose to deny it until overwhelming evidence was brought up.

Most men that stray do that, you know.

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

Multiple universes have been hypothesized in cosmology. Guess what? Parallel Universe do exists. Conservatives did prove the existence of alternate universe.

If you look at the way conservatives think and act. It is not root in reality, but in another dimension of time and space where rules of logic and the constrains of science no longer applied. A world whose landscape is filled with conspiracy and whose boundaries are that of paranoid and delusion.

Welcome, you're entering the abyss of conservatives' alternate universe.

[rwsmith29456]

You don't think the same applies to Liberals??

[IPonUall2]

If you mean getting older makes you wiser perhaps.

I have another take on it....
Time is not linear.
As you travel through it, it passes you by...

[peter-mantello]

If the title of Broadwell's biography of Petraeus was ALL IN. Then her sequel will not doubt be Coitus Interuptus.....or Early Withdrawal

[kbbpll]

She was "embedded" with him for a year in Afghanistan. Late night comedian goldmine.

[crplanelady]

I support General Petraeus because he worked so hard for years in the military wars. My nephew was stationed in Afghanistan. Why do you guys pick on him for you think you are better than him. Nobody on Earth is perfect!!! Leave him alone. I am sure he will be there if President Obama supports him and it is nobody's business. His wife will be there for sure. Thank God Obama and Biden were re-elected! Let General Petraeus stay there and I support him 100%.

[tmittelstaed]

Petraeus isn't worth the spit on your nephew's shoes if he thinks that the UCMJ doesen't apply to him. And he obviously does think it applies because he asked to resign. And if you really did have a nephew in the service you would know that what Petraeus did was a court martialing offense.

Petraeus is being allowed to resign and will keep his military pension and free health care for himself and his family and other military benefits for the rest of his life. His Commander in Chief is being more than generous.

[LovePool]

Riiiight. Hillary and Petreaus won't be able to testify about Bengahzi.

[decotoguy]

How many men, and women died under his command?
I thought America was still at WAR.
Is this how a Military Leader demonstrates respect for the Men and Women
that SACRIFICED their life?
He is just another Knuckle-Head THUG.Having sex with another man's wife.
Remember this,as this WAR continues there are more leaders like him.